IELTS Articles | IELTS Learning Tips

3 Secrets to writing a great Academic Task 1

A lot of students focus more on task 2 than task 1 because it carries more marks. This may be true but when you are seeking a high band like 7 or 8 it is the combination of your two tasks that will most likely get you the score. Remember also that the examiner is […]

5 Books you must have to prepare well for IELTS

I often get asked for recommendations of books and magazines and other resources which can be used to prepare for the IELTS exam. There is a plethora of things out there that will, purportedly, help you prepare for the exam – some are good and some not so good. I believe that there are some […]

7 IELTS ‘Rules’ that will not help you get a high band

Quite often when I start to work with students they have some ‘beliefs and rules’ that have been picked up from various places and people – across the internet mainly – which are actually stopping them from achieving a high score and sometimes making the whole process more arduous. I want to ‘explode’ some of […]

How to solve MCQ questions in IELTS Reading

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Although I have covered this topic before, it seems that many IELTS students still find MCQ in listening and reading rather difficult. I’ll try and clarify again here the best approach to dealing with these questions. MCQ Listening For these questions you have to look at the question, check the choices, listening, find the key word for […]

Five Timing strategies for IELTS Writing

Making sure you complete both tasks in IELTS Writing within an hour can be another challenge for many students. The issue that I find is most cited by students is the ability to ‘think’ of ideas quickly and I see many IELTS students spending too long on this therefore cutting down the writing time. This […]

Five Timing Strategies for IELTS Reading

Managing the time in IELTS Reading and Writing is one of the issues that IELTS students bring to me the most. It seems that for many IELTS students the BIG problem in both IELTS Reading and Writing is often making sure they complete everything in the time available. As this seems to be such a […]

Is IELTS Reading YOUR Nightmare?

Many students LOVE reading. I do too – it’s my favourite thing in IELTS and the thing I most love to teach. However, if you are wondering how that can be, or thinking; “How can anybody LOVE IELTS Reading?” then this article is definitely for you. Why do I enjoy IELTS Reading?The topics are interesting (mostly)It’s […]

10 steps to make 2019 the year to pass your IELTS Exam

New Year is the time for new starts, a time to reflect on life and where it is taking you. If you have your life ‘on hold’ because of IELTS then now is the best time to think about how to make sure you pass the exam and move on with your future. Make 2019 […]

How easy is it to get Band 7 and 8 in IELTS?

How long is a piece of string – as the saying goes? It all depends on several factors.How good your English isHow far away from your band 7 and 8 you are in each partWhether you need 7/8 overall or in each partHow much time you have to study and prepareHow committed you are to […]

How can I set an effective routine for IELTS practice?

A good effective routine is something that you really have to do for yourself. Everybody’s life and timetable has a different rhythm and your study plan will need to coincide with this. Having said that however, there are good principles around setting a study timetable that you can use to make sure you are maximising […]